The Deepest Roots

The power was out when I interviewed Paul Svornich, a third-generation fisherman on Bainbridge Island. By the light of a flashlight and a lantern, his wife Lorraine Svornich carefully pasted labels on cans of tuna caught by Paul from his sailboat 50 miles off the Oregon coast.

No one goes tuna fishing in a sailboat,except Paul Svornich. Read More

My impression is that Paul is living is living a fulfilling life. I found myself wondering if the his fishing and product marketing is his only income, is his wife still ill, and what his daughter fells about fishing? I admire his courage and choices. Nice post Kathleen.

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Jay Salazar

April 05, 2013 2:48 PM EDT

Thanks, Jay. My impression is that Paul makes a good living. His schedule is comparable to that of other commercial fishermen, and he sells at a premium to a niche market. It turns out Lorraine accompanied him last summer, and plans to go again this year. Unsaid in this blog is that all deep sea fishing is dangerous. He loves the life, and this is the risk he is willing to take.

Creative nonfiction, memoir, environmental sustainability.

Combining memoir, historical records, and a blueprint for sustainability, The Deepest Roots shows us how an island population can mature into responsible food stewards and reminds us that innovation, adaptation, diversity, and common sense will help us make wise decisions about our future. And along the way, we learn how food is intertwined with our present but offers a path to a better understanding of the future.